Then Lives in the Now
Travel.
It kicks my butt.
It also opens my heart.
So many remarkable opportunities to practice.
Stop right there.
What am I practicing?
Since I’m writing this the day before our big-long-travel-home-day,
I stare into tomorrow’s many details
With a shiver.
I could get lost in the nuances of what might not work.
Why bother doing that?
So—on this pre-travel day, I am practicing—
Trusting—that the details will unfold as they need to.
Believing—my willful practice of putting those details in place will hold.
Surrendering—the outcome of the details.
Relaxing—into the length and the complexities of the journey.
Remembering—that no matter what happens, we will be fine.
The logistics of travel really do carry such powerful messages of potential powerlessness.
We put the plan in place and then, life has her way with us.
Powerlessness is a gift,
It does
Eventually and inevitably,
Relieve us of the illusion of control.
~~~
And now I am home.
I can report—
Success!
Travel was
Long, intense, screaming babies on a nine-hour flight.
A bunch of babies.
We seemed to be seated in the baby-section of the plane.
One baby was committed to constant screeching.
Yet,
All the pieces unfolded.
Then the next travel piece met the one before it.
We got home safely
And I did not attack the child,
Nor did I
Attempt to put a sock in their mouth.
I did not.
Although I did consider……
What about my time in Assisi?
What did I practice while on vacation?
I pilgrimaged.
I walked.
I prayed.
I sat.
I rested.
I walked
Some
More.
Because of Assisi’s steps and hills, everywhere,
There is a strong physical component to this practice for me.
My practice is walking mantra.
Receiving a repetition of words
That carry me forward.
And walking
With
Those
Blessings.
The most prominent mantra from this past week has been—
(It’s a little embarrassing to share):
Show me.
Teach me.
Bless me.
Heal me.
In any order.
In every rhythm.
Letting it come.
Letting it go.
I highly recommend this practice, mantra walking.
It beats the alternative of our wild, negative minds sidetracking negativity—
Why is this damn hill so intense…..?!?
Walk with an affirmation,
Walk with prayer.
See what happens.
~~~
I want to say something about being a Jewish woman.
Perhaps at some point in my life, I might have imagined/created a division
Between the Energetic Presence and Wisdom of the Christian saints.
And my Jewish tradition.
I have outlived any split my mind might have created.
I believe it is all One.
As a seeker, I am blessed to have this direct experience.
I occasionally think of my Grandma Sonia
Who went to Temple every Saturday morning with quiet commitment.
What might she think, watching me blissed out in these churches?
Yet I know, she loves me enough
To see through to the goodness
Of my heart,
To see through to the goodness
Of the Saints.
I do believe.
~~~
One pre-dawn morning in Assisi we walked in the dark with the hovering moon
To St. Clare’s Church—if you don’t know St. Clare, here is a link.
She is St. Frances’ spectacular partner.
At the 6:30 mass the cloistered nuns sang.
It was a transcendent experience.
Theirs are voices of the angels.
I wanted to capture it for you all,
And knew I could not follow
That invasive desire.
I found this link,
The next best choice.
It is a seven-minute track from CBS Sunday Morning.
“Heavenly Songs from Classical Music’s Unlikely Rock Stars”.
Seven minutes. Listen to the music. Listen to the channels of Grace that they are.
~~~
Dear Friends,
Ah! Dear Friends—
We are human beings
Born divine.
Our bodies hold those contradictions.
Let’s together pray
For the healing of our bodies,
For the quieting of our minds,
For the opening of our hearts.
May all beings benefit from our time together.
Stay blessed,
Aruni
“`
Invitation from My Heart
To Yours.
I would like to personally invite you to the Inner Quest Intensive, which we are holding on October 17-20, Friday evening through Monday midday.
During these days together, we will practice Living Yoga. By utilizing two simple Kripalu methodologies of Practicing Presence, we will be together:
With focus
With silence
With laughter
With growing individual awareness
With ease-filled group commitment
With rowdy dancing
With restful introspection
And more and more and more of time with self and others…..
We will use mindful listening, storytelling, dancing, walking outside, looking inside, looking around, conscious breathwork—to name but a few.
It is a spectacular experience to focus on our own healing and, therefore, to be there for each other.
Reach out to me with questions.
Truly, the three days of this program are my favorite days of my year.
Please consider joining our group of healing and hope.